Showing Posts For geldedgoat.5928:
By definition, magic is natural in the setting, not supernatural.
I think you’d be better served to look at the definition of supernatural. Unless you can explain the physical mechanisms for how Tyria’s magic works, then it’s still just magic… and supernatural. Otherwise, what you suggest would mean that the supernatural could only ever exist in stories, as once it becomes it observable in the real world, it would automatically become ‘natural.’
Many buddhist sects have no belief in the existence of any gods.
Refusing to take a stance is distinctly different from responding negatively (or positively), so it’s just plain wrong to label them atheist. Really, read up on that parable I linked to.
Atheism says nothing about the supernatural.
Well, I already explained why that’s wrong, but believe what you want. ‘Atheism’ certainly isn’t the only term that’s been forced to evolve from its classical origins (which you do accurately describe).
nontheistic is what atheist means.
You’re incorrect. One gives a negative answer to the question of the existence of the supernatural (atheist); the other rejects or ignores the question altogether (nontheist). Think about the difference between amoral and immoral (though here the etymology is reversed). The best evidence of the Buddhist position is given by the parable of the poison arrow.
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^Where is that explained? Just because magic “exists” and many beings make use of it, doesn’t mean it’s no longer magic. In fact, the use of the term magic heavily implies that it’s not natural; that’s kinda what magic typically means. The same goes for ghosts, spirits, and all the rest. Natural means it must adhere to the laws of nature and physics. I haven’t made it all the way through the game, so maybe somewhere a rational explanation is given.
Atheism = Denial of existance of gods
Agnosticism = Not believing in gods, but gods might exist
You’ve got the pop-culture definitions correct, but not the academic ones.
theism/atheism = refers to belief in the supernatural
gnosticism/agnosticism = refers to claims of knowledge
gnostic theism = belief in the supernatural with a claim of personal knowledge that the belief is true, “I know the supernatural is real.”
agnostic theism = belief in the supernatural with no claims of personal knowledge, “I think the supernatural is real, but I can’t be sure.” Also could be informed by an admitted assumption of what seems personally obvious.
gnostic atheism = belief that the supernatural doesn’t/can’t exist with a claim of personal knowledge that the belief is true, “I know the supernatural isn’t real.”
agnostic atheism = belief that the supernatural doesn’t/can’t exist with no claims of personal knowledge, “I think the supernatural isn’t real, but I can’t be sure.” Also could be informed by an admitted assumption of what seems personally obvious.
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Atheism as simply a lack of belief in things named gods is a LONG outdated mode of thinking, an evolution made necessary by the discovery of Eastern and New World faiths and religions that don’t fit neatly into the theist/atheist spectrum. The more proper definition now reflects a lack of belief in all supernatural beings and phenomena, as what may simply be an angel, demon, or even magic in one religion is a god in another.
The other posters have it right: the Charr are some form of antitheist, as atheism simply doesn’t make sense in this game world.
Oh, and no Buddhist is atheistic. The closest one would come is nontheistic.
I had no idea atheism accepted the belief in magic, ghosts, spirits, and other supernatural phenomena.